A village near Stone welcomed in the New Year by taking a dramatic look at its past.

Barlaston Wassail returned after a year’s absence with a short play featuring the area’s Anglo Saxon royals and saints.

Torches on Longton Road (Image: Kerry Ashdown)

Visitors to Stone High Street were treated to a preview on Saturday, December 23, and there was a children’s wassail on Saturday at Barlaston, before the main event on Sunday night.

Tim Cockin as Beornwulf (Image: Kerry Ashdown)

Walkers took a country stroll from The Green car park from 9.30pm, before arriving at the nearby Upper House for the first part of the play.

Act 2 of Barlaston Wassail unfolds in the Duke of York car park (Image: Kerry Ashdown)

The second half unfolded at the Duke of York, ahead of a firey finale which saw Barlaston resident and historian Tim Cockin, in the guise of Barlaston’s Anglo Saxon namesake Beornwulf, climb into a coffin as 2017 drew to a close.

Tim Cockin prepares to ascend the steps to the coffin (Image: Kerry Ashdown)

The crowd of revellers went on to see in the new year on the village green, with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne around a tree.

Barlaston Wassail – which is an evening walk and mumming (folk play) rather than a traditional wassail – began in 2004 after Mr Cockin was inspired by a visit to the Allendale Tar Barrel ceremony in Northumberland.

It showcases local historic figures, including St Chad, St Modwenna and King Wulfhere and has raised funds over the years for Barlaston First Responders, Douglas Macmillan Hospice and Riding for the Disabled.